Institutional Support - Royal Commonwealth Society 2014

This grant represents Canada’s institutional support to the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS). The RCS uses these funds along with other donors’ funding to achieve its mandate. The RCS is a network of individuals and organizations committed to improving the lives and prospects of Commonwealth citizens across the world. RCS engages with its youth civil society business and governmental networks to address issues that focus on the promotion of young people throughout the Commonwealth. The RCS works to improve the lives and prospects of people by: (1) acting as a champion to identify areas for positive social environmental and economic change; (2) celebrating cultural differences and building on the shared values and aspirations that continue to unite citizens across the Commonwealth; (3) developing dialogue and building partnerships with organizations for the well-being and prosperity of individuals; and (4) empowering young people and providing a pan-Commonwealth framework for inspirational youth leadership programs.

The expected outcomes include: (1) stronger commitments from Commonwealth governments towards ending child early and forced marriage; (2) increased leadership and educational development opportunities for Commonwealth youth; (3) increased awareness of rights issues related to gender equality education the environment and diversity among Commonwealth youth; (4) increased awareness of the health and development implications of criminalization of homosexuality amongst policymakers civil society religious leaders and citizens across the Commonwealth; and (5) young people enabled to take positive action for change.